AMERICAN LEAGUE SOUTH

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Monday, April 14, 2008

Anaheim Beefpound (beefpac)The Beefpound has won the AL West the last two years but beefpac has moved the team from Sacramento to Anaheim this year, maybe the change of scenery will allow the team to win the World Series this year. After looking through the team I don’t see any reason why the Beefpound will not win the division again this year. The team only lost Matthew Small (3B) (.271, 19, 72) and Craig Rivers (P) (42GP) to free agency. The team only signed Francisco Manto (SS) (.312, 47, 142) from the Houston Kings of Kumbia for 2yrs/12.7mil and Harold Morton (1B) (.347, 30, 102) from the Texas Talley Whackers for 1yr/4.4mil. The team also acquired Pat Sugawara (3B) (.236, 11, 49) for Nomar Ramirez (1B) (.251, 38, 110) and a minor leaguer.Zip Wirth (C) (.272, 32, 97) knees may be catching up with him as his playing time was cut a little bit at catcher last year, but with more rest this year he should have no problem producing numbers that the team needs from him once again. Silver Slugger SS Junior Lui (SS) (.291, 29, 102) is the prefect combination of speed and power but I wouldn’t expect over 100 RBI’s this year batting from the leadoff spot. Returning players A.J. West (RF) (.258, 25, 78), Karim Lee (2B) (.269, 27, 80), Keith Winston (1B) (.294, 12, 90) and Bud Jackson (CF) (.281, 5, 65) needs to provide some offensive for this team. With the new additions of Manto, Morton and Sugawara will definitely help the offensive this year.The staff was one of only three teams in the American League to hold there opponents below 5 runs a game. With the pitching staff intact they should once again be one of the best in the American League. Benito Garces (14-9, 4.02ERA) has been asked to be a big veteran leader and number one starter from the steady performance from last year. Miguel Martinez (11-6, 4.26ERA) is a very young pitcher that pitched very well his rookie year and is looking to improve with Garces teaching him the way. Paulie Yarnall (15-9, 3.93ERA), AllStar Delino Maduro (10-8, 3.64ERA) and Daisuke Lui (14-8, 4.54ERA) will fill out the rest of the rotation. AL Fireman of the Year/AllStar Hank Epstein (46SVS) coming off a great year last year is still the closer this season. With the pitching staff still the same last year, there really isn’t any questions mark as they should improve a little and not take any steps backwards.Anaheim Beefpound (beefpac)The Beefpound has won the AL West the last two years but beefpac has moved the team from Sacramento to Anaheim this year, maybe the change of scenery will allow the team to win the World Series this year. After looking through the team I don’t see any reason why the Beefpound will not win the division again this year. The team only lost Matthew Small (3B) (.271, 19, 72) and Craig Rivers (P) (42GP) to free agency. The team only signed Francisco Manto (SS) (.312, 47, 142) from the Houston Kings of Kumbia for 2yrs/12.7mil and Harold Morton (1B) (.347, 30, 102) from the Texas Talley Whackers for 1yr/4.4mil. The team also acquired Pat Sugawara (3B) (.236, 11, 49) for Nomar Ramirez (1B) (.251, 38, 110) and a minor leaguer.Zip Wirth (C) (.272, 32, 97) knees may be catching up with him as his playing time was cut a little bit at catcher last year, but with more rest this year he should have no problem producing numbers that the team needs from him once again. Silver Slugger SS Junior Lui (SS) (.291, 29, 102) is the prefect combination of speed and power but I wouldn’t expect over 100 RBI’s this year batting from the leadoff spot. Returning players A.J. West (RF) (.258, 25, 78), Karim Lee (2B) (.269, 27, 80), Keith Winston (1B) (.294, 12, 90) and Bud Jackson (CF) (.281, 5, 65) needs to provide some offensive for this team. With the new additions of Manto, Morton and Sugawara will definitely help the offensive this year.The staff was one of only three teams in the American League to hold there opponents below 5 runs a game. With the pitching staff intact they should once again be one of the best in the American League. Benito Garces (14-9, 4.02ERA) has been asked to be a big veteran leader and number one starter from the steady performance from last year. Miguel Martinez (11-6, 4.26ERA) is a very young pitcher that pitched very well his rookie year and is looking to improve with Garces teaching him the way. Paulie Yarnall (15-9, 3.93ERA), AllStar Delino Maduro (10-8, 3.64ERA) and Daisuke Lui (14-8, 4.54ERA) will fill out the rest of the rotation. AL Fireman of the Year/AllStar Hank Epstein (46SVS) coming off a great year last year is still the closer this season. With the pitching staff still the same last year, there really isn’t any questions mark as they should improve a little and not take any steps backwards.Projected LineupJunior LuiPat SugawaraFrancisco MantoKarim LeeKeith WinstonZip WirthHarold MortonBud JacksonA.J. WestRotationBenito GarcesMiguel MartinezPaulie YarnallDelino MaduroDaisuke LuiCloserHank EpsteinProjected Record – 98-64

Cheyenne Featherwound (weirdterd456)The Featherwounds have found themselves there third different owner in three years and with weirdterd456 thinking that there bad luck was in Salem moved the team to Cheyenne to start fresh. A lofty goal for this team is the win it’s first .500 season. The team lost Randall Spiers (P) (13GP) and Hugh Parkers (P) (8GS) to free agency. The team resigned Anthony Jacobs (3B) (.277, 7, 41), Anthony Jacobs (3B) (Minors) and Ben Ward (2B) (.292, 12, 77). The team also signed Cliff Adkinsson (C) (.241, 26, 59) from the New York Highlanders for 2yrs/4.0mil.AllStar/Gold Glove LF Irv Jensen (LF) (.304, 27, 127) has reach the prime of his career and you should see his power numbers improve this season and reach 100 RBI’s once again. Silver Slugger 2B Adrian Duncan (2B) (.309, 20, 68) is a young hitter that produced well in a limited roll last year and will be needed this in the middle of the order this year. Returning players Ron Frazier (CF) (.289, 5, 60) will need to mix well with the young rookies coming into the lineup this year. The team had no problems scoring runs last year, but that will be a big question mark to put up those same number this year.The pitching staff for the Featherwounds was the worst in baseball last season, giving up 1061 runs (6.54runs per game) and a lot of that had to do with there young pitching staff. The pitching staff is still young, but the team and fans should see an improvement and maybe an ace will emerge from the ashes that were last season. Toby Jodie (10-13, 6.53ERA) is a young pitcher that got beat up last year, but it might have been a great experience as he should improve his ERA this year from it. Rip Brown (8-17, 5.09ERA) needs to get his walk count done if he’s going to improve his record and ERA from a year ago. Jorge Guzman (9-11, 6.38ERA), Edgar Perez (12-14, 5.68ERA) and Gold Glove P Ben Canseco (10-12, 6.19ERA) are filling the remaining spots in the rotation. Louie Gibson (22SVS) didn’t pitch to badly his first year as a closer, so he should improve his performance from a year ago. The pitching couldn’t get any worse then what they where last season, but the improvement will be small this year as the team still isn’t going to scare anyone with the pitching staff.Projected LineupEmmanuel CarrascoCarmen GarciaIrv JensenAdrian DuncanCliff AdkinssonChris JudenRon FrazierAnthony JacobsEdgar SeguignolRotationToby JodieRip BrownJorge GuzmanEdgar PerezBen CansecoCloserLouie GibsonProjected Record – 70-92

San Jose SaberCats (texanboiler)The SaberCats have had the same record for the last two years at 80-82, falling just short of the .500 record both years. The offensive had let them down last season only scoring 4.56 runs per game, which was dead, last in the American League. The pitching staff picked up the slack only allowing 4.98 runs per game, which in the American League is a big achievement. The pitching staff should once again be the strength of this team. The team only lost Hersh Garland (P) (51GP) to free agency. The team didn’t sign any one in the free agent market or in a trade during the off-season. Was this a smart move, especially considering that the offensive needed someone to provide a bat that other team might fear. If there is one offensive that can keep up with the Sidewinders it would be the Talley Whackers. They have a great mix of young and veteran hitters, each one protecting each other in the lineup. Jose Espinoza (3B) (.286, 26, 71) is one of the many young hitters in this lineup and should improve a little this year as he’s about to enter his prime. AllStar Malcolm Lanier (1B) (.296, 33, 88) is another hitter that is entering his prime and with last years performance, he should approach the 100 RBI plateau this season. Returning players Jeremi Jones (SS) (.274, 14, 47), Will Randolph (C) (.297, 16, 62), Edgar Suarez (1B) (.273, 38, 102), Marvin Stark (CF) (.280, 14, 52), Glen Lewis (LF) (.238, 37, 100), Gold Glove C Randy Montgomery (C) (.198, 7, 30) and Michael Watkins (2B) (.263, 36, 83) will try to provide enough runs to give there pitching staff a break once and a while. .500 is within hear shot of this team; will this be the year they finally get over that hump?The pitching staff pitched well last year, keeping them in game that they shouldn’t have been in last season. The strength of the staff had to be the bullpen, holding done leads and allowing the offensive come back all season long. Tito Ramirez (16-12, 4.03ERA) is the ace, elder statesmen and leader of the pitching staff; he’s almost like a second pitching coach to many of the young pitchers in the organization. Marino Mendez (5-10, 4.54ERA) is a young pitcher that the team is looking for to improve and provide quality innings every game. Carmen McPherson (10-14, 6.48ERA), Ricky Bennett (3-8, 4.20ERA) and Orlando Segui (10-9, 5.57ERA) should fill out the rest of the rotation. Shane Haad (37SVS) saw his first year as the closer a great success and more of the same should be indicated this season as well. With the mix of young and veteran pitchers in the staff can they reproduce the same numbers as last season, or will the power hitting American League final catch up with them?Projected LineupJeremi JonesWill RandolphJose EspinozaMalcolm LanierEdgar SuarezMarvin StarkWilfredo AybarMichael WatkinsGlen LewisRotationTito RamirezMarino MendezCarmen McPhersonRicky BennettOrlando SeguiCloserShane HaadProjected Record – 81-81

Tucson Xpress (powercats22)The Xpress saw there team fall in the win column last season but move up to third place in the west as well. With the average age of the team at 26.3 years old, you know that this team is once again going to be young; the only question is how good will they be. Will this team fall in the win column again or will they see improvement? The team only lost Damaso Nieves (3B) (.267, 5, 28) and AllStar Ellie Ashley (P) (61GP) to free agency. The team resigned Vasco Amaro (2B) (.301, 2, 59). The also signed Hector Coleman (C) (.143, 0, 0). The team also traded away Tony Maduro (C) (.287, 6, 31) to the Tacoma Pioneers for a minor leaguer.With the two losing to of the best offensive players during the off season, young players have come up from the minors to try and fill those holes. Michael Long (2B) (.284, 2, 39) is the single season record holder for stolen bases that he set at 77 last season, I believe that he will break the record once again this season. Butch Halter (LF) (.287, 35, 118) is the power in this lineup that is needed for this team. Returning players Willie Garces (SS) (.268, 3, 56), Juan Amaro (SS) (.316, 17, 91), Cy Ryan (SS) (.281, 20, 84), Bob Ulrich (3B) (.285, 7, 62), Donn Bergman (.257, 16, 61), Vasco Amaro (2B) (.301, 2, 59) and Myron Nichols (DH) (.304, 10, 76) has a lot of speed in the lineup but they also need to produce runs. With one true power hitter in the lineup the team will need to play small ball and produce there own runs, which sometimes doesn’t always work out for the best.The pitching staff is very young, which was evident with the team giving up 6.22 runs per game last season. The staff is still young but should improve a little this season, with the goal of the team probably being to hold there opponents under 6 runs a game this season. Vic Sanchez (5-14, 6.10ERA) will be asked to be the staff ace this season, which will hopefully help him improve his numbers from last year. Don Gilkey (9-11, 5.70) is one of the many young pitchers in the rotation that should once again have some growing pains this season. Esteban Fernandez (7-15, 6.43ERA), Victor Sojo (12-6, 4.67ERA) and Rip Knowles (Minors) fill out the rest of the rotation that is young but should improve. Lonnie Rizzo (2SVS) after losing his closer job a year ago, he will once again get a chance to be the closer for this team. Can the pitching staff duplicate there performance from last year or will teams begin to figure them out.Projected LineupMichael LongJuan AmaroBob UlrichDonn BergmanButch HalterVasco AmaroDave RobertsHector ColemanMyron NicholsRotationVic SanchezDon GilkeyEsteban FernandezVictor SojoRip KnowlesCloserLonnie RizzoProjected Record – 70-92